Good and bad news for Miller

By Jemma Tappenden
February 4 2010

West Bromwich Albion would be the first to admit that their victory against Blackpool lastnight was one of the toughest hard fought games of the season. Having fallen behind in the 25th minute the Baggies went in to the interval with a 2-1 advantage from two Roman Bednar goals. But Blackpool threw everything at Albion in the second half and when they grabbed an 80th minute equaliser 3 points

Albion seemed an ever decreasing opportunity.

But an 83rd minute penalty, coolly taken by midfield star Graham Dorrans sealed the win which took the Baggies back to the automatic promotion places.

The penalty came as a result of a foul by Rob Edwards on West Brom forward Ishmael Miller. The recently returned from injury Miller then played out the remainder of the game barely able to walk - having replaced two goal Bednar as a sub in the second half.

The bad news for Miller is that having only just recently re-established himself in the first team, he looks set to miss the next two or three weeks with this recent injury setback. The better news however is that there appears to be no damage to the knee which forced his lengthy absence - the injury is in fact to his ankle, and the club are awaiting news on just how serious it is before confiring how long he faces on the sidelines.

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway called the penalty decision 'extremely harsh'. However, Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo commented that “The penalty was clear, he got past the last defender and got brought down. Does anyone else have a different view? I doubt it.”

Bookmark or share this story with:

Good and bad news for Miller

Discussion started by Baggies World - WBA (IP Logged), 04/02/2010 12:18

Baggies World - WBA
04/02/2010 12:18

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

;Sarah <3
04/02/2010 13:10

Waiting for news on the injury. Really hoping that it's not too serious. The poor lad has been injured for so long and is only just coming back. Keeping my fingers crossed for Ish. And as for Holloway saying that the penalty decision was "extremely harsh" he needs to look again. The defender clearly bought Miller down and he was through on goal. He injured his ankle so clearly he caught the lad.

Reply Quote Report

Lifes Little Jem
04/02/2010 13:24

Hi Sarah - nice of you to pop on and leave your comments, we always welcome new faces!

I agree with your comments entirely. I saw the penalty on Sky lastnight and it was a stonewall penalty decision. Whether he intended to or not he brought Miller down in a goal scoring opportunity.

Lets just hope the news on the injury comes through soon and that he doesn't face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

www.wbabaggies.co.uk

Reply Quote Report

Nippywinger
04/02/2010 22:59

Still not sure if it was such a stone wall penalty as people are making it out to be. At the time, I thought it was never a pen, purely because you can see clearly that Butler gets some of the ball.

Watching it again, I personally think it's touch and go. Seen them given because Butler catches Miller, but seen them not given because Butler ends up getting the ball. Doubt if it was at The Hawthorns and it was DJ Campbell going down in the box under an identical challenge it would have been given, and thats all I'll say.

2008 WBA Winner of Best Username

Reply Quote Report

Lifes Little Jem
04/02/2010 23:14

I don't think that's a very fair statement - if it's a penalty it should be given where ever.

You can't suggest that because Albion are the bigger team the ref favoured him. At the end of the day he was the last man and he took Miller out in a goal scoring opportunity. Whether it was intentional or not is irrelevant, he may well have got some of the ball - but unless you're certain that you can get all of the ball then you have to concede that a challenge like that in the box could lead to a penalty.

www.wbabaggies.co.uk

Reply Quote Report

Nippywinger
04/02/2010 23:18

All I'm saying is that the decision mirrored a lot of the decisions on the night. If the ref was 100% then he should have sent Butler off as the last man, but he wasn't 100%, and if the call is that big, the ref has to be nailed on certain that its a foul. There were quite a few similar decisions where there were very basic tackles, 50/50 challenges that all seemed to end up in a WBA free kick.

2008 WBA Winner of Best Username

Reply Quote Report

Lifes Little Jem
04/02/2010 23:25

I agree with you there - football decisions so often tend to favour one side. I suppose from a West Brom perspective they will say it was about time a ref favoured them rather than the opposition - we all say that!

I didn't see the whole game, so I can't comment on that, but I saw the penalty and all I know is had that been Wolves I'd have been screaming for it. And had it been against Wolves I'd have probably felt a bit like you I guess, although would have had to admit it was a penalty I think.

www.wbabaggies.co.uk

Reply Quote Report

Nippywinger
04/02/2010 23:29

Thing is, you say that it wasn't anything to do with them being the bigger team, but it's been happening all season. We were done in by the ref at Coventry as well last weekend, sending Ormerod off when he was completely innocent, and then last night.

Happens every time we play another playoff contender, which seems to be getting more and more frequent. Suffices to say that if it happens against Leicester at the weekend, I'll be absolutely spitting mad.

2008 WBA Winner of Best Username

Reply Quote Report

Lifes Little Jem
04/02/2010 23:31

I see your point I really do. Like I say, can't comment on anything other than the penalty. But good luck for the rest of the season mate.

www.wbabaggies.co.uk

Reply Quote Report

Nippywinger
04/02/2010 23:38

Aye, and to the Baggies as well. Got to admit, WBA were the best side I've seen us play this season, which includes Newcastle. Not seen Forest yet, but Cardiff were no great shakes either. Passing first half was excellent, but I still think that with a bit of luck we'd have won, and last night proved to me that we can beat anyone in this division on our day.

2008 WBA Winner of Best Username

Reply Quote Report

Lifes Little Jem
05/02/2010 00:02

I think the championship is like that in its very nature, anyone beating anyone. Not taking anything away from Blackpool though, you're having a cracking season and playing some great football which is nice to see. Long may it continue!

www.wbabaggies.co.uk

Reply Quote Report

.Say Hello Wave Goodbye.
05/02/2010 13:44

Good points Paddy, ref top teams getting it, i have to agree.
I remember a certain Sir Gary compiling a dvd and sending it to the Fa when we was in the Prem the first time. Out lining how we thought we were treated. Answered you on the match thread by the way.

The Lords My Shepherd.
The future is bright. The future is Stripes.

www.wbabaggies.co.uk

Reply Quote Report

Nippywinger
05/02/2010 19:32

[www.bfcblog.co.uk]

Proof that Bednar was offside for the goal.

Not that it means much anyway.

2008 WBA Winner of Best Username

Reply Quote Report

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net

West Bromwich Albion

Good and bad news for Miller

More West Bromwich Albion headlines

West Bromwich Albion latest threads

Your Name:
Subject: